National election: PHQ seeks list of officials with ‘clean image’ for OC posts

The Police Headquarters has instructed all units to submit the names of inspectors who may be appointed as officers-in-charge across the country ahead of the national election expected in February 2026.

The directive, issued early this month, stresses the need to deploy competent, impartial and professionally credible police station chiefs to ensure a fair and peaceful election.

PHQ has not yet clarified how the final list will be prepared.

The order comes as scrutiny of inspectors' political backgrounds and their roles in the past three national elections is already under way.

The Daily Star obtained a copy of the November 16 directive issued by the Personnel Management–2 wing, addressed to the chiefs of CID and SB, and the DMP commissioner.

"We are now collecting a list of competent inspectors from the field… After receiving the list, specific criteria will be determined, and a final list will then be prepared for appointments as OC," said AKM Awlad Hossain, additional inspector general (admin) at PHQ.

Sources said priority will be given to inspectors not involved in any controversy during the July uprising or the elections of 2014, 2018 and 2024. Those with clean service records, strong investigative backgrounds, experience in public management, good ACRs and no political affiliation are also being considered.

CID chief Md Sibgat Ullah said they had been asked to send names of highly skilled inspectors. "The inspectors who demonstrate professionalism, have a strong job history, are capable in public management, and aspire to get the posts are being selected for the list," he said.

In July, PHQ issued another directive requiring scrutiny from inspector to DIG level, examining whether officers had political alignment and reviewing their roles in the last three national elections.

Additional IG Awlad said the process is ongoing but could not say when it would end.

There are 530 police stations under eight ranges, 110 under eight metropolitan police units, and 24 railway police stations. OCs play a key role in maintaining law and order during elections.

Restoring public confidence remains a major challenge for the police, whose morale was affected by the mass uprising that toppled the Awami League government.

The force also faces longstanding allegations of partisan roles and ballot stuffing in the past three parliamentary elections. Over 200 officers who held commanding positions in those polls have been made OSD or sent into forced retirement over the past year, according to the home ministry database.

Meanwhile, about 15,000 officers, mostly constables, have been recruited, raising the total number of personnel to 1.93 lakh. Around 146,000 members were deployed in the 2024 election and 140,000 in the 2018 polls.